Device for producing actuating impulses



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.A

GEORGE H. LANG, OF BOSTON, IMIASSACHU'SE'IIS,I ASSIGNOR T0 STOVER-LANGCOMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHU- SETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 5, '1921.

Application led Harch 10, 1916, Serial No. 83,415. Renewed May 28, 1921.Serial No. 473,320.

To all whom #may concer/n Be it known that I, GEORGE H. LANG, a citizenofy the United States, residing at Boston, county of Suffolk, State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Devices for ProducingActuating Impulses, of which the following description, in connectionwith the accompanying drawing, is a speciication, like characters on thedrawin representing like parts.

n my Patent No. 1,128,695, dated February 16, 1915-, I have illustratedand described a speed indicator which is adapted to be actuated by apneumatic impulse-producing actuator comprising a transmittingimpulse-producing member, a receiving member, and means providing aconfined body of air between said members so that as said transmittingmember is actuated the confined body of air will be vibrated, thusactuating the receiving member. 'It is the object of my presentinvention to provide a novel impulse-producing device adapted for use inconnection with an indicator such as described in my above-mentionedpatent.

In order to give an understanding of my invention I have illustrated inthe drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described,after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended'claims. l

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view showing my improved impulse-producingdevice as 1t might be used in connection with a speed indicator for anautomobile;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the impulse-transmittingmember;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the impulse-receiving member.

The device herein shown is of that type which comprises two chambersconnected by a pipe and each having a movableportion, one chamberconstituting the impulse-transmitting member and beingy provided withmeans for moving the movable portion thereby to give the impulse to thebody of air confined between said movable portions and the other chamberconstituting the iinpulse-recciving chamber, the movable portion of saidimpulse-receiving chamber being vibrated or actuated through the airimpulse and in turn actuating the part t0 be operated, Theimpulse-producing member is shown in Fig. 2 and it comprises an airchamber 1 with which communicates a. pipe 2 leading to the air chamberof the impulse receiving member. One end of the chamber 1' is formed bya diaphragm 3 which is vibrated from a rotating shaft 4 that is actuatedby the part the speed of which is to be determined. In the resentembodiment of my invention the shaiit 4 is j ournaled in a bushing 5which in turn is secured in the barrel portion 6 of a member 7. The airchamber 1 is formed within a cap 8 which is secured to the end of thebody 7 by any suitable means such as a clamping ring 9. The edge of thediaphragm 3' is clamped between the flange 10 of the cap 8 and the end11 of the member 7, thus making a tight joint. The diaphragm 3 may bevibrated from the shaft, 4 by any suitable means. I have herein shownfor this purpose a plunger 12 y'which is secured to the diaphragm and inturn is pivotally connected at 13 to one end of a connecting rod 14, theopposite end of which Vis connected to a crank pin 15 formed -on the endof the shaft 4. This plunger 12 is mounted for reciprocation in abearing bushing 16 which is secured in the member 7 and which willpreferably be of a self-lubricating material, such, for instance, aswood that has been properly treated with oil to make itselflubricating.The end of the plunger 12 is reduced in size and screw-threaded, asshown at 17, said screw-threaded end extending through the diaphragm 3and having a nut 18 screw-threaded thereon. which nut has the roundedsurface 19 with which the diaphragm has engagement. 20 is a disk orplate having a convex surface which 1s secured to the plunger 12 andwhich has bearing with the under side of the diaphragm The plunger 12 isherein shown as provided with a lining or envelop 21 iii the form of atube which is rigid therewith and which has engagement with the bearingsleeve 16.

The disk 2() is shown as held in place by a v pin 22 that extends intothe .end of thc'plunger 12. I have herein shown an anti-friction bearingbetween the connecting rod. 14v and the crank pin 15. This anti-frictionbearing is in the form of a plurality ct' rollers 24 received betweenthel .crank pin 15 and the head 23 of the connecting rod 14. Saidrollers being held in place by washers which forms one side of Vshowncomprises a body member 29 having a chamber 30-therei1iwith which thepipe 2 has' communication and adiaphragm 31 lthe chamber. This diaphragmis shown as held in place by means of a clamping ring 32 which is se- Icured to the body member 1 by screws 33.

thereis any"'loss of air this loss will be automatically made l34represents an actuating. element which 1s shown as pivotally mountedat35 and is provided with arounded head 36 bearing against the diaphragm31.L 37 is a'spring acting on the actuating element 34 and tend- Aing tohold it in the position shown in Figa 4.

With this device Vthe movementof the diaphragm 3 upwardly will compressthe air" confined between the diaphragms, thus forcing the diaphragm 31at the receiving end upwardly When the diaphragm 3 moves downwardly thespring 37 will cause the element 34 to resume its initial position, thusforcing the diaphragm 31I downwardly. 'The element' 34 will thus bevibrated in unison with the rotation of the shaft 4.

In devices of this nature 'it is important that the proper volume of airunder the proper tension should always be maintained 1n the pipe 2 andchambers 1 and 30 in order that the element 34 may be properly.bperated. In order to provide for this yI have formed the receivingmember with an air inlet opening which is controlled by yanautomatically-operative valve so thatA if of air in the confined volumeup by air. which is drawn inthrough the air inlet. This air inletopening is shown at 37 and it is controlled by an inwardlyopening checkvalve 38 resting on a yvalve seat l39. I have herein shown this valveseat as formedv on the .end of a bushing'40 f that is 'screwed intofthelmemberl 29. 41

represents a guard which is conlined in the enlarged end 42 ofthe inletport and which limits the opening-movement of the Valve. If during theoperation .of the device the air tension lin the chambers. 1 and 30.andpipe 2 drops below atmospheric pressure ythe valve 38 will beautomatically opened, thus admitting an added quantity of air. v Withthis arrangement -the confined volumeof air will always` be kept at therequired tension to permit the device to properly operate.

yMy invention isnotonly capable of use with the speed indicator of thetype shown 1n myl above-mentioned patent, but can be 'and actuating the`member 34.'

- end, said casing is-that foro'perating a' speed indicator foi` anautomobilefand when used yin this way I propose to provide means for'rotating the shaft 4/frorn one of the wheels of the automobile so thatthe shaft 4 will rotate in timed relation with the wheel.

Any construction i for driving the shaft 4 from the .automobile wheelmay be employed. In the drawings the` shaft 4 is shown `as lprovidedwitha gear '50 which meshes with a vgear 51v mounted on`the hub of the wheel52 of an alutomob-ile. The vtransmitting member 7 may be supported inany wayrto preserve the proper driving connection between the gears 50-and 51. .Where the transmitting member` is attached to the front wheelof `an Tautomobile it 'may be sustained in a bracket' 53 which inv turnis secured to the steering connection 54.--

I claim: f 1. An impulse-producing member presenting' an L-shapedcasing, both arms of which are( hollow, a drivingfshaft extendinglongitudinally ofand journaled in one arm,

said shaft 'terminating within the casing and having'a crank pin at itsinner en d, said casing having Which the crank pin is accessible, aplunger mounted forreciprocation in' the other arm an opening through K*of the' casing, a connecting rod connecting said plunger to said crankpin, a diaphragm connected to said plunger, a cap clamped ,to the end ofthe other arm and en aging they periphery of the diaphragm l t erebyclamping said diaphragm in place, said cap,

and diaphragm forming between them a chamber, la pipe leading ,from saidchamnber, and means to rotate the' driving shaft.

2. An impulse-producing member presenting an L-,shaped casing, both armsof vhich are hollow, a driving shaft extending on sai a crank pin at itsinner aving an opening at the angle in line with said driving shaft, aremovable closure for ysaid opening, a plunger mounted for reciprocationin the other .arm of said casing, a connecting rod connecting' saidplunger to said crank pin, a diaphragmr connected to said the .end ofSaidot er arm periphery ofthe diaphra ing` said dia hragm in p diaphraorming between them a chamber, a plpe leading from the cap to animpulse-receiving member, and means to 'rotate the driving shaft.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.y

.GEORGE H. LANG.

shaft havingh and engaging the thereby Vclamp- 'tudinally of andjournaled in one arm,

ace, said cap and `115 i lplunger, a cap-clamped to

